Wyoming attorney helps inmates spread love

(Torrington, Wyo.) - An inmate is turning heads by unexpectedly spending
their own time and money to help spread some love.
Inmates at the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington have
been regularly making handmade cards for people who need some extra love,
according to Jackson Hole Buckrail
.
Elisabeth Trefonas, a local public defender for Teton and Sublette
Counties, had worked for this prison inmate for a very long time. The
inmate (who prefers to remain anonymous) would send Trefonas cards for
birthdays, Valentine's Day and other occasions.
"They are just gorgeous," said Trefonas about the cards. "It was just very
sweet."
"I posted some of these cards on my Facebook because I was blown away by
them. Then I reported back to him that it got 120 likes, which would make
his day," she added.
One of Trefonas' photos was forwarded to Heather DeVine, the founder of
People Spread Love, a local organization that rallies the community to help
show people that they are loved during difficult times. The two connected
and Trefonas began printing out the Love Requests and mailing them to the
inmate.
He sends the cards in packages to Trefonas, who brings them to People
Spread Love Meet and Make events.
He is also working to engage other inmates to make cards.
"He is very excited about it and is trying to get some other inmates to get
creative as well," she said. "They are doing that out of their own pockets.
They do not want money for it, although we are going to find a way to get
them money for art supplies."
So why are these inmates spending time and money to spread some love?
"I asked him and he said, 'if I was outside, I would be actively involved
in my community and this is one of the things that I would do as a
community member,'" said Trefonas. "Knowing him, I think what he means is
that it just restores some sort of normalcy that he gets to participate as
a community member."
Trefonas said that in the next package, she is expecting to receive cards
from three different artists.
"It is really amazing how it [People Spread Love
] connects with so many different
people on so many different levels," said Trefonas. "I think this is an
example of folks we may not think about who wouldn't necessary care about
People Spread Love, who really are spending hours putting together these
cards because it connects with them as well."
*Feature photo: Feature Photo: (Left) Elisabeth Trefonas. (Right) Cards
that the Torrington inmates create for People Spread Love. h/t Heather
DeVine, People Spread Love / Pitchengine Communities*
#shortgo #news

Wyoming attorney helps inmates spread love

(Torrington, Wyo.) - An inmate is turning heads by unexpectedly spending
their own time and money to help spread some love.
Inmates at the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington have
been regularly making handmade cards for people who need some extra love,
according to Jackson Hole Buckrail
.
Elisabeth Trefonas, a local public defender for Teton and Sublette
Counties, had worked for this prison inmate for a very long time. The
inmate (who prefers to remain anonymous) would send Trefonas cards for
birthdays, Valentine's Day and other occasions.
"They are just gorgeous," said Trefonas about the cards. "It was just very
sweet."
"I posted some of these cards on my Facebook because I was blown away by
them. Then I reported back to him that it got 120 likes, which would make
his day," she added.
One of Trefonas' photos was forwarded to Heather DeVine, the founder of
People Spread Love, a local organization that rallies the community to help
show people that they are loved during difficult times. The two connected
and Trefonas began printing out the Love Requests and mailing them to the
inmate.
He sends the cards in packages to Trefonas, who brings them to People
Spread Love Meet and Make events.
He is also working to engage other inmates to make cards.
"He is very excited about it and is trying to get some other inmates to get
creative as well," she said. "They are doing that out of their own pockets.
They do not want money for it, although we are going to find a way to get
them money for art supplies."
So why are these inmates spending time and money to spread some love?
"I asked him and he said, 'if I was outside, I would be actively involved
in my community and this is one of the things that I would do as a
community member,'" said Trefonas. "Knowing him, I think what he means is
that it just restores some sort of normalcy that he gets to participate as
a community member."
Trefonas said that in the next package, she is expecting to receive cards
from three different artists.
"It is really amazing how it [People Spread Love
] connects with so many different
people on so many different levels," said Trefonas. "I think this is an
example of folks we may not think about who wouldn't necessary care about
People Spread Love, who really are spending hours putting together these
cards because it connects with them as well."
*Feature photo: Feature Photo: (Left) Elisabeth Trefonas. (Right) Cards
that the Torrington inmates create for People Spread Love. h/t Heather
DeVine, People Spread Love / Pitchengine Communities*
#shortgo #news